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General

Show All Answers

1. Can I attend a Village Board Meeting?

The Village Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public, with all attendees required to wear a mask.

Meetings dates and agendas can be found on the Village website. 

Village Board of Trustee meetings are recorded and published to the Agenda & Minutes Center page of the website, and Facebook page within 24-48 hours. 

To learn more about public meetings, click on the "Government" tab on the top of the Village homepage, and select "Public Meeting Notice".

2. How do I find more information about the Tollway expansion project?

Information about the Tollway expansion project can be found here.

3. How can I learn more about upcoming roadway construction projects?

The Municipal Services website details upcoming roadway construction projects, including the 2019 Roadway Resurfacing Program. You can also access weekly construction updates to stay up to date on current project timelines, at www.wsprings.com/roads .

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4. What are the parking restrictions during snow removal?

When snow begins, residents should make every effort to remove parked cars from streets. Clear streets allow Village staff to salt, and later plow when snow accumulates beyond two inches. It is illegal to park on any street for 12 hours after a snowfall two or more inches.

5. Where can I recycle Styrofoam?

The Styrofoam recycling program takes place the first Saturday of each month from 9 am - 12 noon in the Recreation Center parking lot. See the Village calendar for more information. This is intended as a residential program, and not commercial.  

Residents can also recycle Styrofoam at Dart Container Corporation.

6. When do I need a building permit?

The Building Permit Guide is a useful guide to find out if you need a permit, where to get your permit, how long the process takes, what inspections are required and when to request an inspection. Permit information can be found here. 

7. What are the hours for the Village Hall?

Western Springs Village Hall’s address is 740 Hillgrove Avenue, Western Springs, IL 60558 and the telephone number is (708) 246-1800. Village Hall is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00. Village Hall also observes different operating hours from the week prior to Memorial Day to Labor Day. Those hours are Monday-Thursday 7:30-5:00 and Friday 7:30 to noon.

8. What do I have to do to have a Block Party?

Current Village policy requires that any block desiring to hold a block party obtain a permit not less than one week in advance of the event. The permit is granted simply by filling out the block party Consent Form and paying the $50 deposit. The form is available at the Village Hall or online here. Print the form, get it filled out by your neighbors and return it to the Public Works Department. The Public Works Department will process the permit, notifying the Fire and Police Departments of the scheduled event. The $50 deposit is required for the orange cones and will be returned when the cones are picked up by the Public Works Department. On Friday afternoon preceding the weekend event, the Public Works Department will deliver the necessary orange barricade cones to a designated person for use during the block party. The cones will be picked up by the Public Works Department on Monday morning following the event. Any further concerns should be directed to 708-246-1800, Ext. 200.

9. How can I register to vote?

For information about voting in Illinois, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Register to vote directly online, and request a ballot by mail or online. You can also check your current registration status online

Questions? Contact the Illinois State Board of Elections at 312-814-6440.

Cook County Clerk's Office

10. Who handles mosquito control?

The Village of Western Springs is within the boundaries of the Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District, a separate taxing authority within Cook County that handles mosquito control efforts. Regular spraying diminishes the mosquito population and limits the spread of mosquito-carrying diseases. For more information, please call the district at 708/447-1765.

Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District

11. Where can I learn more about 5G Small Cell Wireless?

Go to: www.wsprings.com/5G for resources and information about 5G.

www.wsprings.com/5G

12. Where can I learn more about the new refuse and recycling program?

Beginning on January 1, 2020, Lakeshore Recycling Services (LRS) is the Village's new refuse/recycling collector. Learn more about the change to LRS, including information about single stream recycling, how to place your carts at the curb, and more at: https://wsprings.com/127/Recycling-Refuse-Yard-Waste 

13. What and when is household clean-up day?

** Saturday, June 24, 2023 is Household Clean-Up Day! **

Each year on a Saturday in May or June, the Village hosts a Household Clean-up day, with services provided by LRS, allowing residents to dispose of household items including clothing, draperies, books, furniture, scrap metal, and appliances (household garbage, electronics, landscape waste, liquids, tires, paint, batteries, medical waste, and construction and demolition debris are not eligible). Mattresses must be plastic-wrapped and mirrors/glass must be unbroken or wrapped/boxed. No registration is required for this service. All items for disposal must be on the curb by 7 am the morning of collection day. Please check the Village calendar for the exact date of household clean-up.

14. What do I do if my sewer backs up into my home?

If a home is experiencing a sewer backup into the basement, the Public Works Department will respond by checking the main sewer line for any blockages or problems. If the main sewer line is free of blockages, then the department will recommend the homeowner contact a licensed plumber to investigage the backup in the property sewer connection. During business hours (M-F/8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), please contact Public Works at (708) 246-1800 x 200. After business hours, call the non-emergency number for the Police Department at (708) 246-8540.

15. How do I apply for employment?

Please view Employment Opportunities for all job postings with the Village of Western Springs.

16. What is a Pumpkin Smash?

Each year the Village partners with SCARCE to provide the opportunity to compost pumpkins after Halloween. Check the Village events calendar for a date in early November for this event. Don’t trash it, smash it! 

The Pumpkin Smash is an annual community effort to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop off Jack-o-lanterns to be composted.*

Only pumpkins themselves can be composted. No plastic or metal of any kind. Pumpkins must be contaminant-free, which means no candles, stickers, googly eyes, plastic ears, or other non-biodegradable material. Acrylic paint is acceptable, but no oil-based paint or permanent marker is allowed.

 *Pumpkins should not be disposed of in the regular garbage, or set out at the curb with leaves, as they can damage the equipment used to mulch the leaves. Residents are encouraged to attend the pumpkin composting event, or to put pumpkins out as organic material in a brown craft bag (with a blue LRS sticker) for collection.

17. Does the Village collect dead or wild animals?

Dead animals on Village streets, sidewalks or parkways will be picked up by the Public Works Department. If an animal is located on Ogden Avenue, 55th Street or 47th street, residents must call IDOT at 217-782-2937. If an animal is located on Wolf Road, residents must call the Cook County Highway Department at 708-448-8006. For assistance in the collection of a dead animal from a Village street, sidewalk or parkway, please submit a Service Request. The Village does not collect or destroy wild animals. 

18. What are the Halloween hours?

Trick-or-treating takes place on October 31, from 3 to 8 p.m.

19. Does the Village pick up branches?

The Village only picks up branches following a severe storm. Fallen branches should be moved to the curb no later than 48 hours following a storm. If branches have not been picked up residents should follow up with the Public Works Department no later than one week following a storm event. If branches are moved to the curb as a result of a snow storm, residents should contact the Public Works Department as soon as possible to notify the location of the branches. All regular tree trimmings must be disposed of through the yard waste program. Learn more by reading the LRS guide here. 

Refuse & Yardwaste Guidelines

20. What is Project NEAT Community Clean-up Day?

Project NEAT celebrates more than three decades of community service in which community groups and families join together to clean litter and debris from public parks in the Village. All are invited to bring rakes, brooms, and gloves to assist with clean up. Groups are encouraged to pre-register so work sites can be arranged. NEAT Day is an annual spring event, check the Village calendar for the specific date. 

For more information contact the Western Springs Park District.

21. Is there a drop box for water bill and parking fine payments?

Parking fines and water bill payments may be left in a specially designated drop box at the Village Hall.

22. How do I dispose of unwanted paint cans?

LRS will collect empty or dried out cans of latex paint, curbside. Kitty litter or sand are great ways to dry out the paint, prior to can disposal. An open top cardboard box is recommended for curbside pickup, so that the driver is aware of the materials, with 1 sticker per can required.

Any active paint is best be donated to a local school, recreation center, or art department. Local hardware stores may also accept paint can drop-offs, for a small fee.

For more information go to: http://wsprings.com/127/Recycling-Refuse-Yard-Waste.